8 MOUTH BREATHER (1/2)
It's been only a few minutes since the four men of the Goog Gang got charred in a similar fashion, but the information spread faster than wildfire, and with each gossip, the rumors just distanced themselves from what happened in effect.
”Someone attacked the Egg Diggers and roasted them alive? How did he defeat them, using fire?”
”He must have had some Buzzy Good[1] with him. Or else, we have ourselves another crazy soul that stepped foot on the ship.”
”All Egg Diggers are accomplished close combat fighters. For four of them to be taken care of at once, whoever that person is, he's not ordinary. Are you sure this isn't a Breeze News?”
”No, I swear it. Didn't you hear that faint noise which came through the walls?”
”Yeah, I did. Guess it's true then.”
”Where did the ship stop at just now? I don't even remember its name.”
”It's something called Helen, I think. I'm not sure either.”
”Some random town huh... Any idea, how many got on?”
”Rumors say that there's three of 'em. Big and Bulky. As big as the Hardy Brothers.”
”Shit. We must be careful. If possible, we must become friends with them before others do.”
Be it a small gang or a big group or an individual — almost everyone had heard the tittle-tattle about Lirzod — though not by his name — and the other two who boarded the ship with him.
On a certain deck of Extensive Voyage.
The silhouette of a masculine man could be seen through the curtain. As he showered, he spoke, ”Nobody has ever messed with Egg Diggers on the 10th deck itself. What do you think, Pikolai? Is this a result of confidence or arrogance?”
”I can't be sure, Master. But since the incident happened on the tenth deck, we don't need to worry about it too much. However, we can't fully neglect the incident either.” A man wearing a butler suit, stood right next to the curtain, folding one of his hands. Sporting a french beard and an entirely pulled back hairline, he appeared classy in both his dressing sense and posture.
”Just to be sure... Dispatch the Black Batch.”
”Sure, Master.”
Meanwhile, Lirzod and 777 just reached a room.
777 pushed Lirzod inside and locked the door from the inside. He was sweating a bit, unlike the other. ”Do you have any idea of what you've done?”
”I just gave them a gift.”
”A gift? That's a freaking bomb you gave them!”
”Not a bomb. Only crackers.”
”Crackers, my ass. Now you've done it. There are many formidable guilds and gangs on this ship that you can mess with and still escape from the eyes off, but you just had to pick the wrong one. The members of the Googs Guild may harass the newcomers, but it's a friendly guild that helps people in need. However, what they won't tolerate is the lack of face given to their members.”
”Relax. Those crackers make a lot of noise, but they aren't life-threatening.”
”That's not how it appeared.” 777 ground his teeth. ”And don't talk like you did a great thing. Does this thing you did help you in any way? I was thinking about being your Offsider but now, I'll have to rethink my options.”
”I didn't do it for fun. You saw how those guys handled that baby horse.”
”Yeah, but who cares what happens to that damn foal? You got into a fight for it, but will that foal come and help you when the Egg Diggers come for your head?”
”You need to calm down, Triple Seven,” Lirzod bounced the egg — he fetched from the Egg Diggers — in his palm. ”I'm the one who picked a fight with them. Not you.”
”I am calm! Aren't I?”
”Y-Yeah.”
”Anyways, you are right. This is your problem,” Lirzod's luggage was arranged accordingly to his wishes. Though the room was relatively small — a 250 x 500 cm room —there were quite a many shelves of different sizes to arrange one's stuff in. ”What's all these packets? Are you thinking of raising a shop or what?”
”Ah, those are cocoa beans, cocoa powder, cocoa butter, cocoa nibs...” Lirzod named all the stuff that's in 777's hand at the time.
”Cocoa? You mean the ones they make chocolate from?” 777 sniffed the packets and his eyes automatically closed. For a couple of seconds, his thoughts drifted about in daydreams. (I have tasted so many of these types of stuff. Ah... I miss those days.) ”This aroma...” With a surprised look, he glanced at Lirzod. ”Will you sell these to me for a discount?”
”No, they aren't for sale.”
777 was disheartened a bit, but then resumed his work. This time he took out packets full of cashews, almond, groundnuts and what not. ”Whoa, how many more of these nuts do you have?”
”Aside from few dresses, and fruits and meat, everything else is some form of nuts.”
”You get fat from eating all these. Why don't I — ”?
”No thanks.”
777 was piqued a bit. He arranged the packets in a nice fashion as he was experienced in doing that.
”How much are you paid for this work?”
”Nothing.”
”What? Nothing?”
”I'm not exactly a worker. There's no such profession as a worker on this ship. Either one is a Hollow, like me or is an Entry like you.”
”Hmm? Didn't the Snow White say she's the navigator of this ship?”
”Snow White?” His eyes slowly enlarged. ”By navigator... You meant that 'Madam Stussy'?”
”Yeah, Snow White Stussy.” Lirzod rubbed his nose. (If I can take her home, I can definitely make Primera jealous. Just wait... He-he.)
Chills spread across 777's spine. ”You idiot. Don't say this in front of others. Who do you think she is? She can slice your skeleton into several scraps before you can blink once.”
”Oh, I expect no less from my future wife.”
”Y-Y-Your future WHAT?” 777 almost fainted. Lirzod held him from falling to the side. After blinking twice, he said. ”The rushing blood of teenagers. I can understand the itching it brings. I wish I had your childhood. Not only did your parents send you so much food, they still let you dream about whom you want to marry.” He stood straight and took a deep breath. ”Not everybody gets to live a life like yours.”
”What sort of childhood did you have?”
”Not as pleasant as yours. Definitely.”
”You don't know how my childhood went. Since you're greedy, I can kind of imagine what it would be like, even without you telling me.”
”You can imagine all you want,” 777 finished laying out the luggage, and breathed a sigh of relief.
”Can you now tell me how Snow White formed a staircase out of thin air?” Lirzod remembered the scene from back when he's at the shore. He asked 777 for more than five times, but 777 told him to wait until his work's done. ”That was crazy. Can all Martials do that?”
”All Martials can't. But...”
”But..?”
”Music can control anything in this world.”
”Seriously?”
”Yes, it melts our hearts, makes us fall in love, makes us dream, and much more.”
”Oh, you are talking metaphorically when I asked you to answer literally.”
”The margin between those two thins down as you become stronger and stronger as a martial.”
”Are you a Martial Child?”
”No, I told you, I'm just a Hollow... Like you.” He took out a small pocketbook. ”Take this guide. It will help you understand the rules of the ship, and will clear most of your doubts.”
”Whoa, this is small but thrice as thick as my palm!” Lirzod slid his thumb across the book, flipping all of its pages. ”Do I have to read all of this?”
”That's completely up to you,” Saying that, 777 began to walk out of the room. ”If you need anything, come to the staff dorms and find me.”
”Yeah, sure,” Lirzod put the book on the bed and walked behind 777. Just as they opened the door, an almost six feet tall majestic figure happened to pass by in the corridor. Thinner than Trirera, she was without a doubt, the slimmest person Lirzod ever laid his eyes on. Her long black hair reached all the way to her knees. Her thick eyelashes and black lipstick in contrast to her whitish skin, made her look like a bright brunette — like a creamy chocolate that any man would want to have a bite. Her beauteousness was further enhanced by the sparkling deep-red silk dress. Lirzod was left slack-jawed. ”T-T-That's... Who's that?”
”She's...” 777 blinked twice and paused a moment before speaking. ”She's the Miss World 4212, Clarenda Gazelle.”
”M-Miss World?” Lirzod was at a loss for words. But tears instantly appeared in his eyes.
(What's a figure like her doing here?) 777 made a weary expression. ”Hmm?” Just then, Lirzod ran straight at her. (What is he —). ”Hey, wait!”
Before 777 could do anything, Lirzod ended up reaching her and stopped right beside her. She halted and glanced to the side.
”Wow, look at these arms... They are so slender and long.”
”You need something?” Her voice was a bit deeper than a usual woman, but it fit the sharp features of her face in a congruous manner. Her scent reminded him of fresh grapes, a layered fragrance that would enrich in its essence — the more the attention one paid. It alone sped up his heartbeat. The black rose studded to her cloth at the chest region, further contrasted her skin.
”Can I touch them?” Lirzod's eyes locked onto her's.
Clarenda stared down at him with a blank expression, but her eyes alone subtly spoke in her stead, that she wasn't pleased with what she heard.
(That fool... He's gone!) 777 stopped in his tracks and wanted to run away without looking back. But he held back his fright and stayed right there.